ARNOLDI wake up to the sound of soft whispers coming from Hazel and Ethan's direction. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I glance over to see them huddled close together, their heads bent in deep conversation and I hear Hazel giggling. The bond between them seems stronger than ever, and I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy gnawing at me. As they notice me stirring, their conversation falters for a moment before Hazel shoots me a warm smile. “Morning, Arnold.” She says, her voice soft and gentle. “Sleep well?” I nod, forcing a smile of my own even though I can't shake the feeling of unease that has settled in the pit of my stomach. It's not that I'm not happy for them— they've been through a lot together, and it's only natural that their bond would strengthen, but so have we. Thing is, the way they seem to be so in tune with each other, it's almost as if they share a secret language that excludes me. “Morning!” Ethan chimes in, his eyes bright with excitement. “We were jus
HAZEL I wake up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest as I sit up in bed, sweat dripping down my forehead. Another dream. Another nightmare. For weeks now, I've been haunted by visions of Alpha Hunter, the very man who declared war on us, the one who poses a threat to everything we hold dear. Arnold and Ethan made it clear that he's not welcome anywhere near our territories, but that doesn't stop him from invading my dreams, from tormenting me with his presence. I glance at the clock on my bedside table. It's early, too early for anyone else to be awake. But the fear gnawing at my insides won't let me rest any longer. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand up, my legs shaky beneath me. As I make my way to the window, I can't shake the feeling of worry that settles over me like a heavy blanket. The sun hasn't even risen yet, but already, I can feel the weight of the day pressing down on me, suffocating me with its endless possibilities. How long will I continue to
HAZELI wake up feeling a bit better, Arnold's words still echoing in my mind. But I know I can't let the fear control me. I need to do something to take my mind off everything. As I get dressed, an idea starts to form. Arnold is already up, sipping coffee by the window. Ethan joins him, looking equally concerned. I approach them, determined to make today different. “Good morning!” I say in a sing song voice, trying to sound cheerful. “Morning, beautiful.” Arnold replies, his eyes scanning my face for any signs of distress. Ethan smiles, but it's clear he's worried too. “How did you sleep?” “Better, thanks to you both.” I say, meaning it. “I was thinking... maybe we could go on a tour around the kingdom today. It's been a while since I explored, and I think it would be good for me.” Arnold looks at Ethan, then back at me. “That's a great idea, Hazel. We could use a break too.” “Absolutely.” Ethan agrees. “We can show you some places you haven't seen yet, and it
HAZELI wake up to the sound of frantic footsteps and hushed whispers outside my door. Something is wrong. I can feel it in the air. I sit up in bed, my heart pounding. Arnold and Ethan are already up, speaking in low voices by the window. “What’s going on?” I ask, my voice still groggy from sleep. Arnold turns to me, his face serious. “There’s a disease outbreak, Hazel. People are getting sick.” My heart sinks. “How bad is it? And overnight too?” Ethan steps forward, his eyes filled with worry. “It’s spreading quickly. We’ve already lost a few people. The healers are doing everything they can, but they’re overwhelmed.” I feel a wave of fear wash over me. “What can we do?”Arnold walks over and takes my hand. “For now, you need to stay inside. We can’t risk you getting sick too.” I nod, understanding their concern but feeling helpless. “What about you two? You’re going to be out there with the people, aren’t you?” Ethan smiles reassuringly. “We’ll be careful. We
HAZELI am walking around town outside the palace, enjoying the cheerful atmosphere. The children are playing in the streets, and their laughter fills the air. I have a bag of candy with me, and I start handing it out to the kids who gather around me, their faces lighting up with joy. “Thank you, Princess Hazel!” One of the little girls says, hugging me. “You’re welcome, sweetie!” I reply, smiling warmly at her. Suddenly, the sky darkens, and a large thunderstorm comes out of nowhere. The first raindrops hit the ground, and I feel a chill run down my spine. I look up, worried. “Everyone, inside! Quickly!” I shout, trying to usher the kids into the nearest building. The rain starts pouring heavily, and I notice some people getting hit by it. To my horror, they collapse instantly, lifeless. “No! What’s happening?” I cry out, panic rising in my chest. I grab the children and push them inside, my heart pounding with fear. The rain seems deadly, and I can’t understand what’s g
HAZELI am pacing again. I need to stop, but each time I do, I seem to unknowingly pick it back up. But how can I not with all the bad things happening around? Things aren’t looking right at the moment, and there is nothing that I can do to help at the moment. What kind of queen am I if I can’t even begin to brainstorm or offer solutions? Do I even deserve to have this title? “Your majesty, please sit down. You’ve been walking around for so long, and the doctor has said that your rest is very important.” One of my maids say to me and I shake my head. “I won’t break down if I just walk around for a bit. People have died, and it is worrisome.” I reply, and she nods. “Yes, but you might harm yourself and your child. Please take a seat. Should I fetch one of the kings?” The maid gets up from where she sat on the ground, cleaning something off. I think about it for a while. There’s no question about it, I love to be with my mates, but is it really wise? They’ve worried about me
ETHANI can tell Arnold and I are at our breaking points. The stress is getting to both of us, and it's showing in our tempers. When Arnold suggested taking a break and spending some time in our man cave, I agreed without thinking twice. We both need to unwind and clear our minds. We head down to the man cave, a place we created for moments just like this. It's a place where we can just relax and forget about the troubles of our kingdom, even if only for a little while. The room is filled with everything we love, which includes a pool table, a foosball table, and a large screen for gaming. “How about a game of pool?” Arnold suggests, grabbing a cue stick. “Sounds good to me.” I reply him, trying to force a smile as I grabbed another stick. “We could both use the distraction.” We start playing, and the familiar click click of the balls provides some kind of relief as the sound it itches my brain in a good way. For a few minutes, we are just brothers again, not kings burdened w
ETHAN“I know.” I say softly. “But this is the best way to keep you safe. And we'll keep you informed about everything that's happening. You won't be out of the loop.” Hazel looks down, clearly struggling with the decision. “Where would I go?” “We have a safe house in the mountains.” Arnold explains. “It's secluded and well guarded. You'll be safe there.” Hazel nods slowly, still looking uncertain. “I trust you both. If you think this is best, I'll go.” “Thank you.” Arnold says, pulling her into a hug. “We'll make all the arrangements. You'll be safe, and we'll get through this together.” I join the hug, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. It's not an easy decision, but it's the right one. We need to keep Hazel safe, no matter what. As we pull back, Hazel gives us a determined look. “Just promise me you'll find out what's causing this and put a stop to it.” “We promise.” I say firmly. “We'll do everything in our power to end this.” With that, we start ma